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About The Name

People ask me all the time about the name of my blog, Little Hollywood. Little Hollywood was the name of the shantytown down along the shores of what is now Capitol Lake, a place where some lively characters of Olympia lived. It was our "Hooverville" from the 1920s through the early 1950s. Well, as we know, our area has a lot of interesting, talented, educated characters, and the point of this blog is to help shine the light on some of our "stars" that might not ordinarily be heard through corporate media outlets. So, the name has a double meaning. And since it's my blog, it's Janine's Little Hollywood. Enjoy!

About Me

Thank you for visiting my blog! As a photographer, I also have a website, http://www.littlehollywoodphotography.com. I love Olympia and meet a lot of people who tell me great stories. I love to learn, and hope this blog of local news will be just another source of information for you. Please don't be shy to leave comments. I have set it up so the comments are private first, until I publish them, so if you don't want your comment published, just tell me so. And oh yeah, I'd appreciate it if corporate media or other news outlets did not steal my stories. Please ask if you'd like to reprint my story in your publication or at least give credit where credit is due if you read it here first. Associated Press standards consider blogs a legitimate news source and should be treated as such. Thank you!

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Above:
The Olympia rail blockade of Union Pacific tracks, as seen Thursday morning, started last Friday afternoon. Port of Olympia Commissioner E.J. Zita, City of Olympia councilmember Nathaniel Jones, and members of Olympia Stand met on Wednesday to discuss a peaceful resolution.

The rail blockade of a Union Pacific train currently
on Port of Olympia property in downtown Olympia continued into its seventh
evening on Thursday. The train tried to leave last Friday with a shipment of
ceramic proppants destined for North Dakota, to be used in hydraulic fracking.

The Olympia Stand blockade may be the longest disruption of a fossil fuel industry shipment in state history.Negotiations to peacefully end the rail blockade are
underway, but time may be running out for protesters.

On Thursday afternoon, a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement meeting was held at port administrative offices. About 20 officers were present. No port personnel was present, nor allowed at the meeting.

“Yesterday, people from Olympia Stand met with
liaisons from the City of Olympia (Nathaniel Jones) and the Port of Olympia
(myself). We discussed how we could work together toward a peaceful resolution
of the fracking train blockade. My top priority is the safety of everyone
involved, and I think Nathaniel agrees. I will not presume to speak for Olympia Stand or the Port of Olympia.

Councilmember Jones has proposed a way forward,
which Olympia Stand may consider, and which Port Commissioners need to discuss.

The soonest that the three Port Commissioners can
meet to discuss this is next Monday, due to travel and family commitments. Port Commissioners are then scheduled to
discuss cooperating with the City's proposal for a peaceful resolution.Meanwhile, I hope that no law enforcement action
will be taken against Olympia Stand.”

Zita told Little Hollywood Thursday evening that she chanced upon the meeting, and was nicely, but firmly escorted out. She said she has no information about law enforcement plans.

“Economic Terrorism” Bill Proposed

Washington State Senator Doug Ericksen, a Republican legislator
from the 42nd District representing Whatcom County, issued a press release Wednesday
saying he has prepared a bill for next year’s legislative session that would
create a new crime of “economic terrorism.”

Ericksen says Washington needs to take a firm stand against illegal protests that block transportation and commerce, cause property damage, threaten jobs and put public safety at risk.

Whatcom County has seen its own share of recent blockades
and protests. Over 150 activists blocked an oil train in Anacortes in May as part of the Break Free coalition, and in August, a BNSF coal train was blocked by Deep Green Resistance Seattle members for 12 hours. According to the Bellingham
Herald, trains were delayed three hours on Tuesday by Bellingham
protesters, who left at sundown. The newspaper reported that officers in riot gear used pepper spray and in
one instance, a stun gun was used against protesters who refused to leave.

“I haven’t seen Senator Ericksen’s proposed language but it appears that he lacks a basic understanding of the First Amendment and the role of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly in an open and democratic society,” Neil M. Fox, National Lawyers Guild of Seattle, toldLittle Hollywood Thursday evening.

“Senator Ericksen’s suggested legislation makes me fear what is coming down the road once Donald Trump becomes president,” he added.

The bill would create
a class C felony when protests aimed at causing economic disruption jeopardize
human life and property. It would not apply in cases of lawful and protected
activities, such as strikes and picketing.

The penalties would apply not just to participants but
also to those who fund, organize, sponsor or otherwise encourage others to
commit acts of economic terrorism. Accomplices may be required to pay
restitution up to triple the amount of economic damage.

The actual bill language is not posted on Ericksen’s
website. Ericksen is

chair of the Senate Energy and Environment
Committee.

For more photos and information about the Olympia rail blockade, the Port of Olympia, ceramic proppants, and more, go to http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com and type key words into the search button.